Legislative updates
by Wyoming HD 20 Representative Albert Sommers
February 10, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014:
Hello Sublette County, we started the budget session on Monday, where we heard Governor Mead’s State of the State speech in a joint session of legislature. During this speech the governor recognized several individuals from around the state who had provided outstanding service to their communities and state. Testimony like this restores your faith in humanity, and compels you to be a better citizen. It takes a two thirds majority vote to introduce bills into a budget session. On Monday, bills that passed introduction included those relating to domestic assault and battery, unlawful entry, snow mobile registration fees, and a bill requiring external cameras on school buses. The most notable bill to fail introduction was a 10% increase in Wyoming Game and Fish Department license fees. I voted against this bill because there is another game and fish funding bill that I do support. The funding bill I support is Senate File 45, which provides funding out of the general fund for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Grizzly bear management program and it would add game and fish personnel to the state employee insurance plan. These measures will greatly help the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and they recognize the importance of wildlife to the state of Wyoming by not placing the burden solely on the backs of sportsmen. Thankyou.
Friday, February 7, 2014:
Hello Sublette County, on Sunday I will attend the Republican Legislative Caucus, where we will hear from the state’s top elected officials, as well as our national congressmen. The 2014 Budget Session will start on Monday with a joint session of both houses, where the governor will present his state of the state message. Last Friday, the Management Council met and requested that a bill be drafted to convene a special session of the legislature, to be held early in the summer, dealing with the fallout from the Supreme Court’s decision declaring that SF104 was unconstitutional. I hope the bill will be crafted in manner that will allow full public and legislative debate on this issue. I am drafting a constitutional amendment on this issue, because in the end I believe the citizens should have a direct vote on how much authority the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction has, since it was a constitutionally created office. I have heard there will be a bill brought that deals with school standards and assessments, in an attempt to alleviate concerns about the common core state standards, though I have not seen the bill. Thank you.
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